Ep 347. How Many Businesses Is Too Many? A Real Conversation About Side Hustles, Focus & Growth!

Summary

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Side Hustle Squad Ep 347: How Many Businesses Is Too Many?

A Real Conversation About Side Hustles, Focus & Growth!
Host: Mike Garvey | Date: June 30, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this candid episode, Mike Garvey invites two multifaceted entrepreneurs—Mike (pond and aquatics expert) and Chris (state trooper and business owner)—for an unfiltered conversation about balancing multiple businesses, maintaining focus, and strategies for scaling. Drawing on their own green industry ventures, they wrestle with the big question: “How many businesses is too many?” Their discussion is anchored in real-world experiences, hard-won lessons, and sharp insights from figures like Alex Hormozi and Warren Buffett. The episode is a must-listen for anyone grappling with entrepreneurial distraction, delegation, and the allure (and danger) of doing too much at once.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Temptation of “Too Many Businesses”

• Mike (pond expert) kicks off by referencing Alex Hormozi’s advice about narrowing focus: “Come up with the 10 things you just love… Pick 10 and then eliminate eight and focus on two.” ([00:52])
• Both Mikes express the “blessing and a curse” of being multi-passionate, and the dangers of spreading yourself too thin.

Memorable Quote:

“I want to be really amazing at all of them. But, I gotta narrow it down…” — Mike (pond expert), [01:38]

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2. The Importance of Delegation & Team Building

• Chris explains that success with multiple companies comes down to delegation and building strong teams. For his new robotics (Roped) venture, he “brings people on the team” and shares the vision. ([01:57])
• Discusses leveraging commissions and partnerships rather than hiring a large salaried staff.

Memorable Quote:

“I might be running the show, but I don’t need to make all the decisions. I brought on my good friend Ryan… He’s kind of like Chief of Staff for me.” — Chris, [02:45]

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3. Systems and Processes Trump Hustle

• Chris shares how administrative chaos set in as he expanded, and the critical need for systems and the right people: “I’m not the best at all of that. I want to hire the best person that communicates the best…” ([07:30])
• Mike (pond expert) emphasizes that relying solely on self-effort is a recipe for burnout.

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4. Diversification vs. Focus: When to Grow, When to Double Down

• The debate surfaces: Should you diversify early or master one thing first?
• Mike leans into Alex Hormozi’s view: “Go all in on one thing… then diversify.” ([08:56])
• Chris counters with the appeal of new, high-revenue opportunities in robotics, pointing out that large deals are game-changing compared to previous grind-it-out models.

Memorable Quote:

“Why are you diversifying when one company does half a million, and the other does not a lot at all sales?...” — Chris, [09:07]

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5. Synergy Within Related Businesses

• Both share examples where related businesses (retail, construction, maintenance) can feed each other; the key is aligning them under one strategic umbrella. ([09:40]–[10:21])
• The danger comes when side businesses are unrelated (e.g., embroidery shop + deck building), leading to diluted brand identity and operational confusion.

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6. The Pain of Lost Focus

• Mike (pond expert) reveals how focusing on coaching and podcaster work led to a decline in his wholesale business, underscoring the cost of divided attention. ([25:30])
• He shares his decision to re-focus: “Now I’m gonna be like, I’m going to put that on the shelf. I'm going all in on aquatics.” ([12:45])

Memorable Quote:

“I was so focused on this that [another business] just started to decline… I kind of took my eye off the ball.” — Mike (pond expert), [25:30]

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7. The “Jack of All Trades” Trap

• Both recount stories of contractors who never specialize—doing everything from driveways to embroidery—never achieving excellence in any.
• Mike (pond expert): “You can have one business, but if you’re doing too many legs of it... it’s a mess.” ([21:05])

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8. The Power of Simplicity & Focused Scaling

• Chris gets inspired by MIke’s encouragement to “make Roped New Jersey’s #1 dealer,” vowing to channel all his new-energy there.
• They discuss replicating successful business models in new territories—duplicating, not diversifying. ([28:26])

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9. Personal Fulfillment & Team Culture

• Beyond revenue, both express fulfillment from developing their teams and changing employees’ lives.
• “Now I can see my people close to me, my staff, the people I see every day, see them smile… and their customers are texting me going, ‘Your tech was out here and they are amazing.’ It's the best feeling.” — Mike (pond expert), [27:20]

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Notable Quotes & Moments (Chronological with Timestamps)

• On narrowing down:
  “Alex Hormozi... pick 10 and then eliminate eight and focus on two. That hit me real hard.” — Mike (pond expert), [00:52]
• On building a team:
  “I might be running the show, but I don’t need to make all the decisions… [Ryan] is like the chief of staff for me.” — Chris, [02:45]
• On incentivizing staff:
  “Offering commissions… If you go to this college and we end up selling 15 robots, you're gonna get X percent.” — Chris, [03:49]
• On the pain of task overload:
  “It could get out of control very quickly if you're not putting some sort of systems in place.” — Chris, [07:30]
• On what happens with split focus:
  “I was so focused on [helping contractors] that [my retail business] started to decline.” — Mike (pond expert), [25:30]
• On real impact:
  “My staff, people I see everyday… talking to their customers at a higher level. Their customers are texting me going, ‘your tech was out here and they are amazing.’” — Mike (pond expert), [27:20]
• On the pitfalls of too many side hustles:
  “People just change like that… It's dangerous… They never ride it long enough to get [good].” — Chris, [19:30]
• On the hypothetical embroidery shop:
  “I swear to God, if you open up an embroidery shop, I am gonna lose my mind.” — Mike (pond expert), [30:00] “I only embroider on the ass of pants.” — Chris, [30:05]

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Guiding Questions & Calls to Action

• How many businesses are too many? The consensus is: When you’re not good at any of them. Focus, systems, and a great team make scaling possible, but only within reason.
• Should you diversify? Only once you’ve mastered and systemized one core business; otherwise, you risk doing too much poorly.
• How important is team and delegation? Essential. Building the right team and empowering them to lead is non-negotiable for growth.

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Takeaways

• Success comes from focus, delegation, and systemization.
• Chasing too many opportunities can dilute expertise and revenue.
• Related businesses can synergize, but unrelated ventures create confusion and inefficiency.
• Measuring the real cost of divided focus is crucial—sometimes growth means saying “no.”
• Building a positive team culture reaps rewards, not just for your bottom line, but for your sense of purpose.

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Recommended Segments by Timestamp

• Hormozi’s 10, focus vs. distraction: [00:52–01:37]
• Team-building and delegation stories: [02:45–04:15]
• Risks of over-diversifying and “one business, many legs” trap: [19:30–21:34]
• Lessons learned from losing focus (business decline): [25:30–26:57]
• Mike’s challenge to Chris—go big or go home: [28:06–28:22]
• Humorous embroidery wrap-up: [30:00–30:12]

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Original, Practical, and Real. If you’re juggling multiple gigs or dreaming of more, this episode delivers the hard truths and encouragement you need to grow—without losing your edge.

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Transcript

[Mike Garvey]

Are you ready to kick back and get inspired? Grab your favorite drink, pop the top and join the side Hustle Squad with Mike Garvey. This podcast is the perfect resource for anyone who's already started their side Hustle or is just considering taking the lead. With in depth interviews featuring guests from the green industry and beyond, you'll gain valuable insights and learn what it takes to succeed in running a business while juggling a full time career. From personal stories to practical tips, the side Hustle Squad podcast has everything you need to turn your passion into a thriving business. Now, here's your side Hustle Squad host, Mike Garvey.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

Alex Hormozi always hits me with this. He talks about Warren Buffett and then he talks about come up with the 10 things that you just love and you want to do and you want to build a business around. Pick 10 and then eliminate eight and focus on two. Yeah. And then that hit me really hard because I like so many different things and I want to do construction and maintenance and this and I want to grow plants and fish and aquariums and pond and like, and then manufacturing and so it's like I have a lot of things going on and I feel that there's so many that it becomes a distraction. So how many businesses are too many? Right. And I feel like it's a blessing and curse actually. You know, like being blessed with this much passion but.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

And ideas.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

Yeah. And then, but being cursed because like I want to, I want to be really amazing at all of them. But I, I got to narrow it down. And you as being the side Hustle Squad podcast, it's all about these other businesses and you as being a state trooper and doing all this stuff. I think this is a great conversation to have. Like how many is too many? Sure. How?

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

I guess it depends on. I look at it as depends on are you able to get out of your own way? Are you able to delegate to others to run with the ideas? And that's what I'm going through right now with building. Really. We're authorized Crest dealer now. We're a New Jersey dealer for Robotics Outdoor Power Equipment Roped is the company name. What I'm doing right off the bat is bringing people on a team and promising them what I think they could see, what the future is going to hold.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

Share the vision with them.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

Sharing the vision, putting the people in the right places.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

They have to jump behind it. They have to believe in it. So you have to be a good leader to be able to do that.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

Yeah, right. Yeah, absolutely. And to be. But nothing needs nothing. Yeah, I might be running the show, but I don't need to make all the decisions. I need to like, I brought on my good friend Ryan. He's not even from the lawn care industry. He's from. He's been. He's a bunch of different, a couple different jobs, executive level jobs in New York. But he could communicate with customers. He can communicate with the executives at Crest. He can. So like he's the perfect like right hand or like the chief of staff for me. He's like, hey, I think we in strategy. And like he's an 8 and enneagram 8. I know that. And I. And like he's running with it and he's like, I think we should do this and I know this guy that I think that we can work with and then we can look at like commissions. And you guys, I listened to your, to your speech in there. Your block that you talked about empowering your team to go for the targets.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

Yeah.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

Okay. So I look at that as like commissions offering commissions. Right? Like, so that's where we see in the business is like we don't need all these team members that we pay salary, but we can like bring on others say, hey, if you, if you go to this college and we end up selling them 15 robots, like you're going to get X amount of percent of that and entice them to then go out and push the ball down the field. Right?

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

Yeah, yeah.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

But yeah, how many business too many. Right. I mean, I'm also getting pulled in another direction with my lawn and lawn care, weed control fertilization companies that I opened a new branch this year simultaneously with this other company. And we've already had the playbook. It's not a different business. It's the same business just starting over in a new territory. But now I'm getting approached again for, hey, I want to open. Someone else wants to open up another branch. It's like, okay, hold on. The standards can't drop off, you know,

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

so you're talking about just different branches. So for me, if I'm going to try and relate this to me. So I had the pond digger construction company and we do maintenance. Okay. So that's like different div. I've got a division for maintenance, routine maintenance. And then we set up a division for service and repair. So I have just a service and repair team. They specialize in just this particular thing, but they can move into construction. So it's all under one umbrella. And then. But you know, we, we started A second business. This is 20 years ago. Over 20 years ago, we have exotic waterscapes, which is our retail, wholesale, online kind of business. What it was, it's a little confusing. And I. And now I'm reevaluating things a little bit because I started that 20 something years ago because I was buying so much product, pond supplies, that I could get them at a good price and then I could sell them to local contractors and they could make a markup on it and they could go in and just like they were buying it direct from the other place. Right. But I was buying such volume, I could do that. And so the way that business model was, I set up exotic waterscapes so that the contractors wouldn't have to be buying from their competitor.

[Mike Garvey]

Right.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

Yeah, we're like, we're battling it out. So, you know, and they knew it. It wasn't like I was being deceiving about that. They knew that it was my business. It just, for whatever reason, it felt a little bit better, you know?

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

Right. Yeah.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

So that was fine. That's how we did it. So I've had those two businesses for so long, but I don't really, I don't really press or push that side of my business. It's just a name over there so contractors can buy from it. But, you know, at this stage in the game, that business does need to grow. I need that business to do really well. I want it to, you know, especially as I'm approaching this, these later ages of my life, I want to be able to have that business doing really well, the construction company doing well. And then look at. In 2012, I released the Helix Pond skimmer. And so I really have not even tried to promote that product for 13 years. Right. So now's the time where it's like, I want that product to do really well now too. But I know if I put a bunch of energy into that, then the Pond Digger construction company might start to. I take my eye off the. Off the target. Right. So now that's why the kind of. What the whole topic was today here at Profit Accelerator Live was to be able to go like, I am changing the way I look at things. I'm changing my targets for all the companies so they can grow if I'm not there. And I feel like you already have that figured out kind of, you know, in your head, like, I'll just empower these people to go. And I. I've lacked that for so many years. Right.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

Yeah. I mean, it, I've seen it. I've Done. You know, I. I was the guy. Everything was flowing through. But then now I. Especially with Coastal Fertilization. Initially, it was like things started falling apart because it was like, oh, my God, there's so many emails. There's so many, like, complaints. Not complaints, but there's so many customer questions and stuff like. Like, it could get out of control very quickly if, like, you're not putting some sort of systems in place. And, like, yeah, I'm not. Yeah, I handled the administrative sh. Administrative part of the company. But, like, I'm not the best at all of that. There's other people way better than me, and I want to hire the best person that communicates the best with the customers. Or Ryan, who's, like, the best communicator and organizer, and he's all into doing all this stuff with AI and built the website and, like, just, like, running with it.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

Yeah, you'd be a train wreck right there, right?

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

No, I just. It's just none of it would get done because I. I just feel like, no, I need to. Okay. Spring rush with Coastal. I'm focusing on that. I'm out spraying weed sometimes. It's like, I can't, like, also do this, but then I'm also gonna need, like, somebody to, like, you know, start. Start visiting, you know, municipalities and counties and golf courses and other landscapers and that. It's like, okay, but how am I getting that? Well, I think I'm gonna get it by promising people, hey, if you. If you nurture the lead, then you're getting X amount of percentage.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

I mean, I guess the argument from Alex Hormozi would be like, you need to go all in on one thing and get really good at it and get so big at it and make so much money at it. Then you can start to diversify. That's kind of like, yeah, why are

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

you diversifying when one company does half a million? Right. My other, you know, and this other company's done not a lot at all sales. Like, why aren't you just going all in on fertilization, weed control and that? But I don't know. There's not a lot. You have to do a lot of volume where, like, I've never seen. Now I'm seeing, like, okay, you sell X amount of robots, and it's like, we got some money coming, like, big ticket that I'm like, whoa, I've never even seen that because I've never done a job like that before.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

Well, it's interesting because you're doing the. So you're Dealing with crests. Right. And so you have these robotic lawn mowing devices, but you're a distributor for it, so you can sell them to golf courses, but your team also would be using them. So it's like, it does fit within your umbrella pretty nicely, right?

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

Yeah. And we use the products and like, Larry, my partner, uses all the handheld tools and can, like, tell exactly. Another landscaper what they'll need on their truck. We can break it down by exactly what they need to upfit their truck to move over to battery. So. And it creates a lot of value to that customer and, like, validation, I guess.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

Yeah. Because it's.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

They're like, wow, like, this guy is actually doing it and he's a dealer. Just like it. Right. Like, it's not like, oh, it's a salesman from Chris.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

Like, yeah, look at his pretty nails.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

Yeah.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

You know, he doesn't have blisters on his hands.

[Mike Garvey]

Right.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

They're soft. Yeah, I get it.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

Right.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

Sorry, Chris. If you listen, I'm just.

[Mike Garvey]

Sorry.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

Okay. I'll give you some real world examples. So in 2020, I started really heavily into sales communications. Right. And I got to the point where I was like, okay, I. I learned plenty. I feel good. And then I. I left this coaching group, and then everyone was upset with me. They're like, you can't leave us. We want to coach with you. And then so all sudden, training with triplet's born. Right. And I did it. You know, we were still coming out of, you know, 22, 23. It was still clumsy. Right. And I did have a lot of fun and fulfillment with that. But at the same time, my podcast turned primarily. It went from, like, only pawns to, like, pawns and contractual communications. Then when we went to the deep end, my. My goal was to, like, push heavily for contractors, but be open enough to have these deep conversations about ponds, aquariums, wherever, like that. Right. But, you know, I had this really heavy change of thought. Maybe it's Alex Hormozi in my head, Warren Buffett, and, you know, really closely looking at numbers and where I want to grow and what targets might be. And I could see that my podcast had shifted a little bit more too heavily towards contractor benefits and stuff like that, how to help contractors a little bit less on the ponds. And then suddenly, you know, we go two months, and there's not a single pond podcast or maybe one or two. And so then, like, I'm letting those customers. I'm putting them on a shelf. I feel bad about that. Right. Because I'm still so passionate about aquatics and all that. That's when I just, like, pushed pause. I'm like, let's figure out where I really want to land. What would Alex tell me? What would Warren want me to do? And so now I'm into that mode where, like, I put TWT on the shelf. You know, I've. I've poured myself into the past four years on twt and I've poured myself into the podcast for the past 18 months on train with Triplet. And now I'm just gonna be like, I'm gonna put that on the shelf for a little bit. I'm going to all in on aquatics. And I. I will tell you, this time next year, Mike, you're probably gonna go, oh, that worked, right?

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

Oh, I could see it already happening.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

I already see the numbers. I feel the tides changing. I feel so good about it. I wake up differently. I feel better about it. And contractors still call me. I've still homies with all my contract. Yeah, I still help them and all that stuff. And that's why I'm here at Profit Accelerator Live. But at the same time, I feel really excited about the future of focusing in exactly what I want, because I know I can take Helix somewhere really special. Plus the personal development, which I still feel so excited about. Like, I still want to get better every day. And now I have. I have enough knowledge now where I can empower my team at much, much greater, deeper level to do exactly what you're saying is to, like, get them to make their own decisions, get them to run the show, get them to push the ball forward, down the field. And so I'm super excited about the future on that.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

I could tell. I mean, you had a. I haven't seen you since San Antonio, March, early March. And there's been a shift of just focus. And it has to be, like, invigorating just to have, like, to be focused on one thing and just be like, nope, I'm not doing that right now. That's gonna continue on. But at a later point, part of me is motivated by that too, especially to grow this robotic stuff, because I'm super. I'm very into it. I'm power passionate about it. I'm learning the products. I'm like, my other business is still growing. And because I have, you know, I have Andrew there, my main guy. I just have one guy doing 800 accounts, and it's like, I don't even hear from him. That's a lot of I'm here.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

Like, I'M here, I'm here in Virginia. Larry's in Italy. And, and he's, he's doing his work and like, because, and what I found with him too, it's like he just wants to be included. So, like, okay, once a month, on the first of the month, let's go to Buffalo Wild Wings, have a, have some wings, hang out, let's talk everything. And he has goals. He's had a tough pass. He wants to get an apartment. Like, I want that to happen. Like, he's gotten a car. He's gotten that. Like, and he's like, man, like, you guys. He told me that the other night. He's like, he's like, you guys changed my life.

[Mike Garvey]

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[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

the link in the podcast description.

[Mike Garvey]

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[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

Side hustle at checkout.

[Mike Garvey]

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[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

Academy Live tickets go on sale July 15th. Like, I want you to be on this ride with us. Like, I want you. You're with us. You're, you're, you know, so getting him into like the, that position has been awesome, which is allowing me to focus on this other project and then also, you know, focusing on the other, the branch a little bit. That, that I'm like, whatever happens, we have right now we have like 12 accounts up in North Jersey. That's fine. I'm fine with that. Like, it's not. Nothing's. Everything's gonna, like, it's gonna take time. It's not gonna be an overnight success as far as, like, the podcast stuff too. And I love that because it's a networking thing I don't really care about. Yes, sponsorships are great. All of that. Courses all that stuff, like, I just do it and I. And I don't want to do anything more than just, like, keep doing my podcast two days a week and talking about what I'm doing in my businesses and, like, things that I'm going through and I'm starting over a new business and starting over a new branch and just telling and connecting with you guys. I don't care what that does because it's just, this is invaluable. Like, I'm here, like, I'm here with my, with my friends, you know what I mean? But, like, to go out and, like, hunt down, like, again, hey, I need, you know, a thousand dollars for this, like, reel. It's like I'm over it.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

For a sponsorship thing, right?

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

Over it.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

Yeah. So the fun thing about the twist for my podcast is that sometimes I have, I feel like the knowledge I have, I've shared it enough, you know, that people should already know it and they don't need to know it anymore. But I, I meet new people, people find out about the podcast different. It gets shared out, and all of a sudden people, they don't. They're not going to go back and listen to, you know, I think I'm on 400 and something episodes. They're not going to go Back to episode 27 unless I really go. You have this problem. You need to go to this, right? Go to episode 27 and it'll solve all that for you. So they don't necessarily always go back. They just lock into the future. So I feel like I can definitely go over a lot of the content I've already shared. But I have different stories now, too. I have a different story to tell you about how, you know, this algae is, you know, affecting your pond or whatever. Right. Just like this year, you know, we, we've done like, podcasts on what are the fads and the trends that I see in the, in the water garden industry this year, you know, it's. I could see things changing, you know, like this year there was something interesting because it was like 100 degrees in January, which was really rare, and we attacked our ponds differently in the season. And so I never really did a podcast about that. And I think a lot of the people that have followed my content for decades would be like, I want to hear about that even if I'm not in California.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

Yeah. I want to know what you're doing.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

Yeah. And so my, my. I'm committed to getting back into the basics of that because that's the foundation of who I am. And where I. How I've got here. Right. But I'm still going to be very dedicated to my. My personal development and my. My personal journey on building my brand. Right. And I think all of my. All the people that have an affinity for my brand and for who we are, they're going to want to hear that. Right. And so I'll share my journey and what I'm learning, where I'm at and the struggles and, and, And. Oh, yeah. How to take care of algae in your pond this year.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

Yeah.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

Right.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

They're getting it all. Yeah, they're getting exactly it, I think. Is there it. I don't know if there's a set number. I don't know of a set answer. But, like, I see people, though, they're like, oh, I build. I build decks. And then I also do embroidery and then I also do, like, whatever. And I'm like, oh, my God. Like, you just change. Like, people just change like that. And I'm like, it's dangerous.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

They don't ride it long enough to get.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

They don't ride it long enough to. Yeah.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

You know, as a landscape contractor and something that I've done for years, it's interesting. I'm glad you brought that up because as a landscape contractor, I can do a lot of different construction. It's all falls under my license, right? So I can do hardscapes, I can do softscapes, I can do lawns. I could do lawn cares. You know what? Pools is a little. There's a little hip right there. Little. Little glitch or a speed bump to get over. But of course, I can do ponds. I can do small pergolas and patio covers. And, you know, I can run small electrical things like that. I don't have to have an electrical contractor license necessarily to run a little power loop because that could fall under my. Right. If I want to get into a panel and bring out, you know, a bunch of different circuits, and I'd be like, hey, let me get a subcontractor in here. But do like, my, My contractor license is so vast, right?

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

Yeah.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

And I see a lot of contractors do that. A general contractor for ex. They can do almost anything. Right? But that's the problem, man. They're like, they're doing driveways and they're painting houses, and then they're doing a room edition and a kitchen remodeled bathroom. They're all over the map, dude. And they never get good at anything.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

No, they're just, they're like, I can't tell you 0 to 100. They're at a 20% on all of that stuff.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

And they don't know what they're most profitable at. They don't know their marketing is totally messed up because they can't. Like, so you can have one business, but you're doing too many legs of it and it's. It's a mess. It's the same as. As being an embroidery and a screen printer. There's. They're kind of close, but then also you also, you know, fertilize lawns. You know, we're like, well, I started doing my own screen printing because my.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

I needed shirts.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

Yeah. I seen shirts on my screen printer. Pissed me off. So I just bought the equipment. Now I have a little business doing that. I'm like, what?

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

That's when two businesses are too much.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

Yeah.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

How many business. I think when you're. You're not good at any of them.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

Yeah. Well, it makes it hard to become efficient. Be quick. Makes it hard to market the stuff.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

Yeah. Because it's like, what about the truck

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

that's driving down the street and it's

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

like a hundred different things.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

Yeah. It's like such and such landscape thing. We'd like. We do just put everything. Just put it. Just put bullet. Everything we do. Everything we do. Yeah.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

Like such and such landscape power washing, roofing and drywall, gutter cleaning and. And Christmas lights.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

And we can. Christmas lights. You know, I can kind of see the Christmas lights guys. For the, you know, the landscapers and the terrible winter weather or what. I. I don't have to do that. But you know. But then it says. And embroidery on the back.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

Yeah, it's like an embroidery and decks.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

Let's. So I guess that's the question that would. That would be the leading thing. So one of the part of this podcast for me is to be like a little directional pivot and. And refocus for me. I want my audience to know that, but also is to the side hustle aspect of it. I love that about your podcast. And everything that I became good at was a side hustle at one point. Right. So it's like when I was on stage today speaking to that guy, he's like, when should I do this? And I'm like, I had to. I can't give that one question to the whole room. I have to dial it in for him. Might not work for everyone else in the room. Honing in on what you're focusing, what your desire is, what your passions are, and then we'll go from there. So, dude, I'M passionate about this.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

I could tell. And you, you're like, you have me super focused on like okay, is it, let's focus. And for me right now it's going to be focused on roped, on the robotics. I'm going to grow this thing and I want to be like New Jersey's number one dealer. Right? That is my goal. People in New Jersey, they come to me for robotics and outdoor power equipment because that's what I want. But I want to be focused on that and then still sustaining Coastal and that giving premium service, that just being a well oiled machine.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

So here's the crazy part. Here's the question. Because I worry about you. I do. So there's a little, there's a tie to it all. But meanwhile you're on, on security detail.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

Yeah.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

State trooper. It's cool. So, but my, but the question becomes. Okay, let's say you have three businesses Roped Coastal and the Amazing Lawn Care. Amazing.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

Well, I have nothing I don't have anything to do with.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

Yeah. What's, what's the fourth one?

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

What? Amazing Creations.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

No, you did, you have four. Four. Right.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

Well, I would say, I would say State trooper, that's the podcast Rope.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

But you have, you have four jobber accounts, right?

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

Correct. Yeah. Right, but I have access to that. That fourth. Yeah, that. So Larry's Amazing Creations, my partner in Coastal, like that's all his. I don't do any day to day on that.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

Okay. So let's just focus on this. Let's say you have three and let's say you do a million dollars per thing and then add the podcast. A million dollars. You're making a million dollars on all four. Right. Four things. $4 million. What if roped. If you gave it everything was a $9 million business. So that's what I struggle with. Right. You know, and I will say, I mean I'll be transparent with everyone. So my retail wholesale business started to decline a little bit. My numbers were down a little bit. But I was putting so much effort into helping contractors become a better version of themselves. Twt. And I was putting all my money into that. And you know, I had some sponsorships and then we had some money coming in from coaching.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

So everything was.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

Yeah. So like we went up like $150,000 in revenue for that part of the business. Meanwhile, the decline in exotic waterscapes was 400. So it's like, okay, this is. The numbers are. And I didn't pay enough attention to it. I was like, I was so focused on this that it just started to decline. And then a few months later, go like, I kind of took my eye off the ball. And so I sit here, think. And I had to talk with Naylor about this too. I'm like, what happens if you weren't coaching? What would, what would the world be missing if without you? And then two weeks later, I shut my coaching group down and he was like, what happened, dude? What did you do? What was this whole thing about you and without the. Without you, what would the world be missing? And. And I was like, well, bro, the aquatics world is missing me.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

Yeah.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

More than the contractors are the contractors have you. I, I'm, I'm. I'm all in on aquatics and I'm still going to be a better version and help out all my buddies in the business, too.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

But you're going to grow your business to infinite.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

I mean, dude, here's something that you don't know, but right now. So you've been on my, my weekly Compass calls and you've been on the Tuesday night trainings with me and stuff like that. That hasn't stopped. It stopped to the world. It stopped to the public. I do it with my team now, every day, twice a week. My full team is. We're doing it and my team's developing and growing and they're getting excited and they're up, you know, helping their customers.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

Teaching, Selling to your team.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

Yeah.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

In within your own company.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

Yeah, I don't want to.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

Not even selling.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

But yeah, I want to call it. I want to teaching service. I'm teaching communication. I'm teaching ethics. I'm teaching that to my team, pouring myself into that.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

And you're gonna see. Reap the benefits of all of that.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

Not only, not only financially, that will. But, you know, when I see a contractor, when I'm helping a contractor and let's say I'm their coach and then they're benefiting and I see their families benefiting and stuff like that. It really makes me feel amazing. But now I can see my people close to you, my staff, the people I see every day, see them smile and then they're talking to their family differently. They're talking to their customers. They're serving my custom. Our customers at a higher level. And they're, they're getting thrilled about it. And their customers are texting me going, hey, I just want you to know, you know, your tech was out here and they are amazing. I just want you to know that. And I'm like, it's the best feeling. It's amazing.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

You focus that into. And turned it inward. Yeah, it's awesome.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

Yeah. So, yeah, so that. That's where I'm at with the businesses are too many. So I'll be. I'm going to be keeping a close eye on you, and I'll challenge you because I'm your buddy.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

I want to be challenged.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

Like, I'll be like, roped should be 9 million. Why is it only 2.5? You're like, well, I got nine businesses now.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

No, like, right, right.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

They each do 500. I mean, like, roped should be 15 million, bro. Like, what do you do?

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

But also, you know, part of me, too. It's like, okay, like, say I'm opening other locations for Coastal. It's like, this is where I kick around. It's like, I could open other locations for Roped.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

Yeah.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

In places that are not where I did.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

I talked about that today. I mean, having different locations is a good thing.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

And having business. Same. Same business.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

Duplicating.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

Duplicating. If this is working, it's like, I'm a standalone. I'm not a gas dealer, so it's like, that's where I. I think I'm the only standalone Crest dealer where I don't have to. Oh, you know what? Oh, I have. And that. That's where I feel like getting pulled in different directions as a. As a dealer. Oh, I need to sell steel, but I also need to sell. Right. Standers. And then I also need to sell this battery stuff that's up and coming, but I make my money on making repairs to gas equipment, so I don't know if I really want to push that stuff that much. This is the stuff I'm like. And I need to learn different platforms and. And the money, you know, the commissions that are different for this and that. And, like, I don't know, like, that's that. Like, that's stuff I think about, too, as, like, a. As an equipment dealer. It's like, do you want to be selling all these different brands, or do you just want one brand?

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

I wonder how this podcast is going to sit with you in a month. Wonder if it'll hit you differently.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

I think so.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

Any final words?

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

No. This was a cool topic.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

Okay. I do. I do have some final words.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

Go ahead.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

I swear to God, if you open up an embroidery shop, I am gonna lose my mind.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

I only embroider on the ass of pants.

[Mike (pond and aquatics expert)]

All right, man, let's sign off. We'll leave it at that.

[Chris (state trooper and business owner)]

All right.

[Mike Garvey]

Thanks for tuning in to the side, Hustle squad. Podcast with Mike Garvey. We hope you enjoyed this episode and gained valuable insights to help you succeed in your side Hustle journey. Connect with Mike using the links in the podcast description. If you love the show, please leave us a well worded five star review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback and support help us grow and continue to provide you with the best content. And don't forget to follow the show to be notified when the next edition of the side Hustle Squad Podcast is available. We have many exciting guests and topics lined up so you won't want to miss a single episode. Thanks again for listening and we'll catch you next time on the side Hustle Squad Podcast.